How to navigate the food regulatory landscape for Listeria spp. and Listeria mono. testing
Friday, November 21, at 13:00 GMT | 14:00 CET | 08:00 EST | 05:00 PST
Listeriosis remains a serious public health concern. In 2023, thirty EU/EEA countries reported 2,993 confirmed cases, the highest annual total since surveillance began. In the U.S., around 1,250 cases occur each year, leading to approximately 1,070 hospitalizations. Between 2016 and 2023, a multi-country cluster linked to ready-to-eat foods resulted in 64 cases across five EU/EEA countries
These persistent outbreaks continue to challenge food producers worldwide and in response to this, regulatory requirements globally have been rapidly evolving in recognition of these threats. Remaining compliant in this fast-changing landscape adds further complexity for testing laboratories.
Regulatory bodies have responded to these threats with revisions and tightening of the current regulatory frameworks for Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes:
- FSIS broadened its testing to include non‑Listeria monocytogenes species from January 17, 2025.
- EU Regulation 2024/2895 sets a '0 cfu/25 g' requirement for Listeria in ready‑to‑eat foods.
Register for this exclusive webinar to hear from microbiology experts, Katharine Evans, François Le Nestour and Dr. Salman Zeitouni as as they discuss how labs can stay ahead by adopting internal standards that exceed minimum regulatory requirements and by implementing robust, adaptable pathogen‑testing programs.
Key learning objectives:
- Uncover the fundamentals of Listeria and its pathogenicity
- Review major Listeria outbreaks and their human impact
- Decode recent regulatory changes from the US and EU on Listeria
- Learn how to design and validate testing protocols that go beyond minimum regulatory requirements, ensuring continuity when regulations change
- Explore Thermo Fisher Scientific's microbiology solutions for rapid detection and enumeration of Listeria and Listeria spp.
Who should attend?
- Food testing professionals
Certificate of attendance
If you attend the live webinar, you will automatically receive a certificate of attendance, including a learning outcomes summary, for continuing education purposes.
If you view the on-demand webinar, you can request a certificate of attendance by emailing editor@selectscience.net.
Speakers
As an R&D Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Katharine Evans brings over 18 years of microbiology experience to the development and validation of food safety testing methods. Her work focuses on ensuring that assays meet the highest standards of performance and compliance through validation against international industry bodies.
As the Global Product Manager for Molecular Solutions at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Dr. Salman Zeitouni drives the development and launch of innovative PCR-based workflows for food safety testing. He combines insights into industry challenges, regulatory trends, and cutting-edge technologies to deliver solutions that enhance efficiency and reliability in modern food labs.
François Le Nestour has worked for 16 years in the food and water microbiology industry and has conducted more than 50 method validation studies. In his current position, he is the Head of the Microbiology Department of Microsept, an ISO 17025 accredited contract laboratory located in France and a recognized expert laboratory at both AFNOR Certification and MicroVal.
Moderator
